Lightroom

Client

William Carpenter

Description

This quote by Bruce Mau inspired the founders of this multi disciplinary design studio.  Its members work in a collaborative fashion on product design, film production, graphic design, website design, interiors and architecture.  Their new studio, in a gentrified area of Atlanta near the town square of Decatur exemplifies their commitment to community and education.

The program called for parking two cars, a model shop and utility room, an entry stair, a large studio space, kitchen, guest room, two baths and a loft bedroom. A roof terrace was requested to overlook the historic town square. The project is located within a very sensitive fire district in core of downtown Decatur.


This project solution is about the compression and expansion of space. The project is a wooden volume placed within a concrete container--these materials contrast the industrial loft feel with the warmth of a jewelry box. As one enters the building through the courtyard and up the entry stair, the space contracts and compresses. Moving through and under the wooden box, the space decompresses and expands to reveal the historic 1870's era building in front( a lawyers office) and the view to the town square of Decatur to the north.  In the other direction are the train tracks that activate the views periodically, like a film, with the colors of the train cars moving through the view from the studio.  A large Oak tree shades the glazing in the summer months. The Atlanta skyline and Decatur square are visible from the roof terrace.


Type of Construction:

Materials, Engineering Systems and Other Pertinent Technical Information

The materials relate to the historic house (made of scored paint, stucco and native Georgia materials such as cypress, maple and pine). Concrete masonry units, structural steel and precast lintels, fire shutters and sprinkler systems. Glass is argon filled with UV inhibitors. Cypress is sealed with the UV inhibitors and water-based sealers are specified throughout the interior and exterior.  Recycled Concrete Blocks, Hard Coat Natural Stucco with Metal galvanized bead edges, Porous concrete slabs to allow root growth and water saturation of tree roots, Georgia Cypress 4" tongue and groove cypress (from a sustainable forestation program in South Georgia Swamps, Truss-Joist roof frame and smooth cedar plywood soffits. 4" Recessed halogen lighting.  Careful arborist input was sought and implemented to care for the existing water oak trees.